\n According to author Jini Jones
Vail\, were it not for the involvement of French General Rochambeau in the
American Revolution\, &ldquo\;We&rsquo\;d be speaking the King&rsquo\;s E
nglish right now.&rdquo\; The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum\, in Wethersfield\
, Connecticut\, will host a presentation by Vail\, the author of &ldqu
o\;Rochambeau\, Washington&rsquo\;s Ideal Lieutenant\, A French Gener
al&rsquo\;s Role in the American Revolution.&rdquo\; Admission to the lect
ure is free and donations will be accepted.

\n Vail will discus
s the march across Connecticut of French General Rochambeau and 4\,000 of
His Majesty\, King Louis 16th&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;best soldiers.&rdquo\; The
march was planned by George Washington and Rochambeau at a high-level conf
erence held May 21\, 1781 at the home of Joseph Webb in Wethersfield &ndas
h\; now the core of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. One month later\, Rocha
mbeau and his horses\, oxen\, men and supplies\, cooks and servants\, arti
llery\, baggage wagons and cattle\, passed through Connecticut from Plainf
ield to Ridgefield. Vail will include many personal stories recorded by me
n who marched\, as well as reports from locals who witnessed the mass move
ment of French troops across Connecticut. The march planned at Webb&rsquo\
;s home ultimately led to the defeat of the British in Yorktown\, Virginia
\, just five months later.

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\n &nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbs
p\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&
nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\; The lecture begins at 6:3
0 p.m. and will be preceded by a wine reception (by donation) at 6 p.m. an
d followed by a book signing.